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Bredbånd Finnmark to use Nexans fibre-optic cable to develop its telecommunications network in Finnmark, Norway

Paris, June 15, 2006 - Bredbånd Finnmark AS has awarded Nexans a contract to supply fibre-optic cables for the first phase in the development of a fibre-optic telecommunications network throughout Finnmark, the northernmost county in Norway. Nexans is supplying 110 km of submarine fibre-optic cable and 20 km of fibre-optic land cable to create a link between Alta, the largest city in Finnmark, and Hammerfest, the second largest city, situated on the islands of Sørøya, Kvaløya and Seiland. This extremely demanding project is scheduled for completion in record time, so that Hammerfest, the world’s most northerly city, can be linked to the rest of the world by a fibre-optic broadband line by this August (2006).

The fibre cables will be manufactured at Nexans’ Rognan factory in Norway. Nexans will also be project manager, working in co-operation with a number of partners to ensure that the cables are delivered on time. Blom Maritime will carry out the seabed mapping work, Seaworks will be responsible for installing the submarine cable and Relacom will pull the cable ashore and installing the land cable.

“This is a demanding project which includes everything from applications for permits from public and private bodies, to mapping the seabed, manufacturing the cable, installing the cable in the seabed and on land, and testing it out”, says Nexans project manager Ove-Svein Birkelund. “However, we are going to use well-established cable and installation technology and all the partners have wide-ranging, long experience in their respective fields”.

“For Bredbånd Finnmark, this is the foundation for establishing a fibre network throughout Finnmark county and creating a fibre link between east and west Finnmark. Together with our business partners Ishavslink and Bredbåndsfylket Troms, this also marks the start of a joint venture that will create the basis for developing a modern digital communication network for the county”, says general manager Tormod Skaret. He adds that Bredbånd Finnmark AS will, together with Finnmark county council, apply for the Euros 6.4 million which was awarded to the Høykom programme under the revised national budget for 2006, and expects Finnmark to receive funds to develop additional infrastructure in the county.

About Nexans

Nexans is the worldwide leader in the cable industry. The Group brings an extensive range of advanced copper and optical fiber cable solutions to the infrastructure, industry and building markets. Nexans cables and cabling systems can be found in every area of people’s lives, from telecommunications and energy networks, to aerospace, automotive, railways, building, petrochemical, medical applications, etc. With an industrial presence in 29 countries and commercial activities worldwide, Nexans employs 20,000 people and had sales in 2005 of 5.4 billion euros. Nexans is listed on the Paris stock exchange. More information on www.nexans.com